Hegseth grilled over opposition to women in combat, accusations of misconduct

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• Amna Nawaz:

  One of president-elect Trump's most controversial nominees was the first to face the scrutiny of a Senate confirmation hearing.

  A new PBS News/NPR/Marist poll set to be released tomorrow finds that Pete Hegseth, the nominee to lead the Department of Defense, has room to introduce himself to the country; 55 percent of Americans don't know enough about him to have an opinion, 19 percent hold a favorable view of him, and 26 percent have a negative impression.

• Geoff Bennett:

  The nominee was questioned today about alleged sexual and financial misconduct, as well as a concern that he lacks the experience to manage the Defense Department's more than three million employees. Hegseth has denied any wrongdoing.

  Congressional correspondent Lisa Desjardins reports now on how Hegseth handled the hearing room spotlight.

• Audience:

  USA! USA! USA!

• Lisa Desjardins:

  Supporters chanted as the defense secretary nominee took the hot seat.

• Pete Hegseth, U.S. Defense Secretary Nominee:

  When President Trump chose me for this position, the primary charge he gave me was to bring the warrior culture back to the Department of Defense.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  For Pete Hegseth, that means blocking diversity programs that conservatives challenged.

• Pete Hegseth:

  The dumbest phrase in military history is, our unity is our strength. No, our shared purpose is our strength.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  Republicans see it as raising standards.

• Sen. Eric Schmitt (R-MO):

  You are a breath of fresh air.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  But Democrats see a nominee who has repeatedly questioned women's rules in the military, including in a podcast about two months ago.

• Pete Hegseth:

  I'm straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn't made us more effective.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  At the hearing today with two women senators who served in the military, strong pushback.

• Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY):

  You will have to change how you see women to do this job well, and I don't know if you are capable of that.

• Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH):

  Mr. Hegseth, should we take it to believe that you believe that the two women on this committee who have served honorably and with distinction made our military less effective and less capable?

• Pete Hegseth:

  Senator, I would like to clarify. When I'm talking about that issue, it's not about the capabilities of men and women. It's about standards.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  Hegseth has Ivy League diplomas and has multiple tours in the military. He has led small veterans groups, but nothing larger. Most recently, he's been a co-host on FOX News. If confirmed, Hegseth would head the largest agency in the federal government.

  Committee Chair Roger Wicker praised him as unconventional.

• Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS):

  That may be what makes Mr. Hegseth an excellent choice.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  But Democrats decried him as lowering standards for the top defense job.

• Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI):

  I hardly think you are prepared to do the job.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  Hegseth focused on his leadership skills and vision.

• Pete Hegseth:

  I want smarter and more capable people around me than me. And you will get that at the department.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  But Democratic senators raised other concerns, past affairs and reports of Hegseth being falling-down drunk at work events.

• Pete Hegseth:

  A small handful of anonymous sources were allowed to drive a smear campaign.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  Democrats pointed out it was not all anonymous. They said some eyewitnesses to drinking have given their names and:

• Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA):

  So, you acknowledge that you cheated on your wife and that you cheated on the woman by whom you had just fathered a child.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  Adultery is illegal under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Hegseth repeatedly did not comment when asked to deny or explain many accusations. But he did reject allegations that he sexually assaulted a woman in 2017. Hegseth reached a settlement, including a nondisclosure agreement with the woman.

• Pete Hegseth:

  Senator, I was falsely accused in October of 2017. It was fully investigated, and I was completely cleared.

• Sen. Mazie Hirono:

  I don't think completely cleared is accurate.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  Of all the senators asking Hegseth questions, one is the most pivotal to his fate.

• Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA):

  We have had very frank conversations. Is that correct, Mr. Hegseth?

• Pete Hegseth:

  Senator, that is a correct characterization.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  Iowa Senator Joni Ernst, the first female combat veteran elected to the Senate. She's also a rape survivor. And to move forward, Hegseth needs her support, which she has not yet clearly given.

  Hegseth is unlikely to get Democratic votes. He declined to meet with most of them. The Republican chairman of the committee has helped him, blocking access to his FBI background check for most senators. President-elect Trump has a unique vision for the military, including it as part of his plans for mass deportation and other policies.

  Hegseth was asked if a president's orders could ever be unconstitutional.

• Pete Hegseth:

  Senator, anybody of any party could give an order that is against the Constitution or against the law.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  Hegseth questioned if Trump would ever do that, but he didn't answer about how he would respond if it happens.

• Sen. Roger Wicker:

  This hearing is adjourned.

• Lisa Desjardins:

  For the "PBS News Hour," I'm Lisa Desjardins.

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